Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-Peter Dowling
Portrait and Biographical
Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
PETER DOWLING, an intelligent and
highly respected citizen who owned and
operates a fine farm on section 34, Noble
Township, Dickinson County, claimed the
Emerald Isle as the land of his birth. He was
born in Queen's County, Ireland, September 20,
1829, and was a son of Dennis and Margaret
(Dempsey) Dowling. The days of his boyhood and
youth were spent in his native land, and on attaining
his majority he took passage on a sailing-vessel
bound for New Orleans. They stopped at Havana
for water, and after fourteen weeks dropped
anchor in the American harbor.
For twenty-two years after coming to this
country, Mr. Dowling followed railroading, being
an employee on the Chicago & New Albany, the
Ohio & Mississippi, the Louisville & Nashville and
the Illinois Central. He came to Kansas in 1866,
as a track-layer on the Union Pacific Road, but
the Indians made it a dangerous undertaking to
venture further West, and he continued to remain
within the borders of civilization. Purchasing a
one hundred and sixty acre tract of raw land on
the south side of the river, near Chapman, he engaged
in its cultivation and development for six
years, after which he purchased an improved farm
of two hundred and seventy acres in Noble
Township, one of the oldest places in Dickinson
County. There he continued to make his home
until 1880, when he came to the farm on which
his family still reside, only a short distance away.
At his death he owned and operated four hundred
and forty acres of valuable land, the entire amount
being under a high state of cultivation. His principal
crops were wheat and corn.
An important event in the life of Mr. Dowling
occurred on the 20th of October, 1857, in New
Albany, Ind., when he married Miss Mary Ann
McCarty. She is a native of Madison, Ind., and
is a most estimable lady, highly educated, cultured
and refined. Their union was blessed with the following
children: Gregory D. aids in operating the
home farm; Martin L. resides in Denver, Colo.;
Dennis Emmit, Peter, May Margaret, Charlie, Anna
and Martha are still under the parental roof. Their
first-born, Dennis Ernest, died in infancy, as did
six others The members of the family rank high
in social circles and all belong to the Catholic
Church.
Mr. Dowling generally supported the Democratic
party but voted for President Harrison and was a
warm admirer of the late Hon. James G. Blaine. He
had served as School Trustee and as Trustee of his
township, and it is needless to say that his public
duties were well performed. He came here as a
track-layer on the Union Pacific Railroad, but at his
demise was one of the wealthiest citizens of the
community, having acquired by his enterprise, perseverance
and good management a handsome property.
His excellent farm is valued at $50 per acre.
His home was one of hospitality and its doors were
ever open for the reception of their many friends.
Mr. Dowling was a well-informed and well-read
man and probably had the finest and most extensive
library of any farmer in this section. It contains
many standard historical and scientific works and
the writings of the best modern and ancient authors.
Mr. Dowling departed this life July 26th, 1892,
and his death was a great loss to his family and
the community in which he lived.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP